BACOLOD CITY — A foundation providing meals to undernourished children in evacuation centers and remote areas received the 1st Kabalikat Achievement Award from the Department of Science and Technology.

The Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation was one of the recipients of award for providing 7,471,691 Mingo Meals to undernourished children.

NVC president Millie Kilayco received the award, that was accompanied by a P200,000-cash prize, from DOST Undesecretary Rowena Guevara and Food Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) Director Mario Capanzana.

NVC received the DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute “Technology Adaptor Innovation Award” in the large scale category.

The award was given for NVC’s successfully engaging various sectors, including local farmers producing the raw materials for the complementary blends, in addressing malnutrition among children, FNRI Director Mario Capanzana said.

NVC has also demonstrated excellent management and marketing skills, and introduced product innovations like additional variants in the original formulation, plus extensive reach to indigenous communities, he added, in the foundation’s citation.

Kilayko said NVC has delivered more than seven million Mingo Meals in 34 provinces since the DOST FNRI introduced the foundation to complementary food to provide nutritional support for infants and toddlers in deprived communities in remote areas seven years ago, she said.